Methods and systems for providing enhanced value of lottery-type tickets

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to methods and systems for conducting and playing a lottery-type game. One method of lottery-type wagering of the present invention includes providing a player an opportunity to purchase a lottery ticket for a first round of a lottery-type game, conducting the first round of the lottery-type game, and providing the player an opportunity to activate the lottery ticket for participation in at least one round subsequent to the first round

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Provisional Patent Application,Ser. No. 60/715,461, filed Sep. 9, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to methods and systems for conducting andplaying a lottery-type game.

2. State of the Art

Various conventional lottery-type games allow a player to select one ormore groups of numbers to match with a group of numbers generated by agaming administrator, which may include, for example, a state or othergovernmental gaming authority or a gaming operator acting on behalf ofthe gaming authority. For example, gaming administrators offerlottery-type games, sometimes referred to as “Pick-3,” in which a playerselects three numbers to match identically (in order) with a set ofthree numbers generated by the gaming administrator. Another example ofa lottery type game is POWERBALL® offered by many states.

These lottery-type jackpot games, such as POWERBALL®, offer playerslarge jackpots that can be won in any of its periodic regularlyscheduled drawings in a jackpot sequence. A jackpot sequence is definedas an aggregate number of consecutive drawings that occur beginning witha minimum starting jackpot and ending with the drawing in which thejackpot is won, the jackpot typically increasing with each passingdrawing with no winner, at least of the grand prize. The number ofdrawings in the jackpot sequence may vary. For instance, a jackpot couldbe won on the very first drawing of a sequence or a jackpot can “rollover” and grow for many subsequent consecutive drawings where no jackpotwinners are drawn. When this occurs, the “un-won” jackpot rolls forwardsto the next scheduled drawing and additional jackpot revenue from newticket sales is added to the amount rolled forward in the jackpot. Eachtime the jackpot rolls over, the amount of the jackpot increases and, asthe jackpot grows, so does player interest and associated sales oflottery tickets.

In these lotto-type jackpot games, all winning and losing tickets for aspecific drawing are rendered obsolete, in that they retain no value andare not eligible to win prizes in subsequent drawings. Rather, only newtickets purchased specifically for the next scheduled drawing areeligible to win cash prizes. Consequently, while the lotto-style gamesprogressively accumulate jackpot funding, the players that havecontributed to the growing jackpot by purchasing lottery tickets in theearly drawings of a jackpot sequence are ineligible to win the growingjackpot and other prizes in subsequent drawings of that jackpot sequenceunless these players purchase a new lottery ticket for the subsequentdrawings. Thus, in lotteries that have periodic drawings, once a drawinghas been held, tickets for that drawing retain no value and only newtickets purchased for the next scheduled drawing are valid for the nextscheduled drawing.

Typically, sales for lottery jackpot games are low in the early drawingsof a jackpot sequence when jackpot amounts are at their lowest levels.Consequently, jackpot growth during these early drawings occurs at arelatively slow pace, and sales remain depressed until such time as thejackpots are of such a magnitude to attract widespread interest amongthe general public. When this occurs, sales increase and jackpot growthaccelerates. Since purchased tickets retain no value for subsequentdrawings, and since lower level jackpots in the early drawings of ajackpot sequence do not typically attract the interest of a significantportion of the population, there is little incentive for players toparticipate in the early drawings of a jackpot sequence. This results inmany players withholding their participation until the jackpot reaches amonetary level they deem significant. Accordingly, while thelottery-type lotto game progressively accumulates jackpot money insuccessive drawings, the players who participate in the early drawingsof a jackpot sequence are not rewarded for their loyalty insofar astheir chances of winning a subsequent jackpot are not proportionate totheir accumulative investments. Despite the fact that early participantsdisproportionately contribute to the collective jackpot, especiallyduring the initial drawings of a jackpot sequence, they are, in effect,penalized in that their chances of winning the subsequent [larger]jackpot(s) are equal to those of players who choose to participate laterin the jackpot sequence. This dynamic serves to reinforce the naturaland proven tendency of many players to withhold their participation inthe early drawings of a jackpot sequence, and this, in turn, furtherretards jackpot growth, further inhibits sales and ultimately results inlost revenue for the gaming administrator.

There have been prior attempts to provide value to a losing lotteryticket. For instance, International Publication No. WO 03/090139discloses a system and method for redrawing lottery tickets that havelost a first drawing in a lottery. The system and method allows theplayer to register the spent lottery ticket via the World Wide Web,wherein the second opportunity for the spent lottery ticket to win issolely based on the spent lottery ticket. Further, InternationalPublication No. WO 03/22380 discloses a lottery game having an “instantwin” feature, wherein a number set used in the instant win feature maybe used in a future lottery game.

International Publication No. WO 02/41233 discloses a lottery game thatuses tokens for the numbers in the game, wherein the player's chance ofwinning the lottery type game is increased based on the number oftokenspossessed by the player. U.S. Pat. No. 6,599,186 discloses a lotterygame where a “never lose” lottery ticket is purchased and the never loselottery ticket that does not win a prize is active for future drawingsuntil the never lose lottery ticket itself does win a prize.

International Publication No. WO 02/38233 discloses a conditionallottery ticket system that allows a player to purchase conditionallottery tickets that are not activated until one or more player-definedactivation conditions are satisfied. This reference further discloses alottery game where the player may continually play the lottery when theplayer-defined conditions are satisfied.

The present invention discloses methods and systems for providing aplayer an opportunity to place lottery-type wagers that overcomes thedeficiencies in the cited references and offers additional advantages incomparison to the prior art.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment, a method of lottery-type wagering includes providinga player an opportunity to purchase a lottery ticket for a first roundof a lottery-type game, conducting the first round of the lottery-typegame, and providing the player an opportunity to activate the lotteryticket for participation in at least one additional round subsequent tothe first round.

In another embodiment, a method of lottery-type wagering comprisesproviding a player an opportunity to purchase a lottery ticket for afirst drawing in a lottery-type game, effecting an outcome of the firstdrawing in the lottery-type game, and awarding a prize of a plurality ofprizes to a participant in the lottery-type game if the participant'slottery ticket at least partially matches the outcome of the firstdrawing of the lottery-type game. In the method, one of the plurality ofprizes comprises qualification of the participant's lottery ticket forparticipation in one or more drawings subsequent to the first drawing.

In an additional embodiment, a method of lottery-type wagering includesproviding a player an opportunity to purchase a lottery ticket for adrawing of a jackpot sequence, conducting the drawing of the jackpotsequence, providing the player an opportunity to activate the lotteryticket for participation in at least one consecutive drawing immediatelyfollowing the preceding drawing of the jackpot sequence, and conductingthe consecutive drawing(s) following the preceding drawing(s) of thejackpot sequence.

Lottery-type gaming systems for performing the methods ofthe instantinventions are disclosed in other embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

In the drawings, which illustrate what are currently considered to bethe best modes for carrying out the invention:

FIGS. 1A-1C are block diagrams of lottery-type gaming systems on whichthe lottery-type gaming methods of the present invention may beimplemented.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In various embodiments, the present invention includes methods andsystems for lottery-type game tickets in preceding drawings to retainprize-winning eligibility in subsequent lottery-type game drawings in ajackpot sequence. The phrase “jackpot sequence” refers to the aggregatenumber of consecutive drawings that are conducted in a lottery-typegame, starting with the minimum jackpot amount that occurs immediatelyafter a preceding jackpot has been won, until the new jackpot prize iswon. For example, the lotto-type game POWERBALL® features two drawingsper week, resulting in 104 drawings a year. If the POWERBALL® jackpot iswon on every drawing in a year, POWERBALL® would have 104“jackpotsequences” for that year wherein each jackpot won would be for theminimum guaranteed amount since no jackpot would roll forward and havethe opportunity to grow. However, if the POWERBALL® jackpot were won onthe 104^(th) drawing of the year, that year would have but a singlejackpot sequence that would undoubtedly result in a very large jackpot.Although these two scenarios are statistically possible, they areunlikely to occur since lottery-type gaming designers exercise greatcare in designing games that provide for both jackpot growth and jackpotwin frequencies.

In various embodiments, the gaming administrator may design thelotto-type game such that the base retail price of an original ticketpurchased for a specific lotto-type game drawing includes the abilityfor that ticket to retain prize-winning eligibility for one or moresubsequent drawings in a jackpot sequence that occur after the drawingfor which the original ticket was purchased i.e. no additional premiumor surcharge is levied for this benefit. Alternatively, the gamingadministrator may design the lotto-type game in a manner such that apremium or surcharge is levied in order for the original lotto-type gameticket to retain prize-winning eligibility for one or more subsequentdrawings in a jackpot sequence that occur after the drawing for whichthe original ticket was purchased.

In various embodiments, the gaming administrator may design thelotto-type game such that retaining prize-winning eligibility for“spent” tickets from a previous lotto-type game drawing for one or moresubsequent drawings in a jackpot sequence occurs automatically i.e. theplayer is not required to perform any action in order to renew orreactivate the “spent” ticket for subsequent drawings in a jackpotsequence. Alternatively, the gaming administrator may design thelotto-type game in a manner in which the player is required to performan action (e.g. the payment of an additional fee) to renew or reactivatethe “spent” ticket so that it retains eligibility to win at least one ormore of a plurality of prizes in at least one or more subsequentdrawings of a jackpot sequence. Or, as noted above, the additional feecould be collected at the time the ticket is bought to ensure the ticketwill renew, reactivate or otherwise remain “alive” and eligible for oneor more subsequent drawings.

In various embodiments, the gaming administrator may design thelotto-type game such that the ability to renew or reactivate lotto-typegame tickets from previous drawings to remain eligible to win at leastone or more of a plurality of prizes in at least one or more subsequentdrawings of a jackpot sequence is contingent upon the purchase of newtickets for at least one or more of the subsequent drawings of a jackpotsequence whereby the lotto-type gaming system (FIGS. 1A-1C) isprogrammed to electronically link new ticket purchases to the ability torenew or reactivate “spent” tickets from at least one or more precedingdrawings of the jackpot sequence. Further, the gaming administrator mayrequire the value of the new tickets purchased to be less than, equal toor greater than the value of the “spent” tickets to be renewed orreactivated. The gaming administrator may design the lotto-type gamesuch that the purchase of new tickets for at least one or more of thesubsequent drawings in a jackpot sequence is required to occur in aconsecutive sequential manner i.e. the ability to renew or reactivate“spent” tickets is forfeited if lotto-type game drawings are skipped.Alternatively, the gaming administrator may design the lotto-type gamesuch that the purchase of new tickets for at least one or more of thesubsequent drawings in a jackpot sequence is not required to occur in aconsecutive sequential manner (i.e., players are permitted to renew orreactivate “spent” lotto-type game tickets for subsequent drawings in ajackpot sequence even if the player failed to purchase a new lotto-typegame ticket for at least one or more of the preceding or interveningdrawings in that jackpot sequence).

In various embodiments, the gaming administrator may design thelotto-type game such that lotto-type game tickets from at least one ormore preceding drawings automatically remain eligible, or may be renewedor reactivated to remain eligible, to win at least one or more of aplurality of prizes in at least one or more subsequent drawings of ajackpot sequence. For example, “spent” tickets having automatic retainedeligibility and/or “spent” tickets that have been renewed or reactivatedmay be eligible to win only specifically designated prizes such as thejackpot as determined by the gaming administrator. Similarly, the gamingadministrator may designate the period of time and/or the number ofsubsequent drawings for which the retained eligibility is valid (e.g.one drawing, two drawings, etc.).

In various embodiments, the gaming administrator may design thelotto-type game such that lotto-type game tickets that qualify to retainprize-winning eligibility in subsequent drawings of a jackpot sequenceare restricted to non-winning tickets and/or winning tickets of one ormore of a plurality of prizes in a preceding lottery-type game drawingin a jackpot sequence. For example, the gaming authority may designatethat all non-winning tickets (i.e. all tickets that failed to win anysecondary prize in a preceding drawing) retain eligibility or may bereactivated for subsequent drawings in a jackpot sequence.Alternatively, the gaming authority may designate that only specificwinning tickets, for example tickets that correctly matched 3-of-6numbers in a preceding drawing, retain eligibility or may be reactivatedfor subsequent drawings in a jackpot sequence.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a player purchases a lotteryticket for drawing #1, drawing #1 is held and a winner of a jackpot isnot drawn in drawing #1. If no winners of the jackpot are drawn indrawings #2 or #3 and in drawing #4 the player purchases a secondlottery ticket, the lottery ticket purchased for drawing #1 and thesecond lottery ticket purchased for drawing #4 are both “active” or incontention for the lottery drawing of drawing #4. Further, if no winnerof the jackpot is drawn in drawing #4, the player has the option topurchase a third lottery ticket for drawing #5, wherein the firstlottery ticket, the second lottery ticket, and the third lottery ticketare all active for the subsequent drawing #5. Thus, each lottery ticketpurchased by the player is “re-activated” each time the player purchasesa subsequent lottery ticket for a drawing until a winning ticket of thejackpot is drawn in the jackpot sequence. In this embodiment, the playermay not be required to play consecutive drawings in order to“reactivate” tickets.

In another embodiment, a lottery ticket from a previous drawing mayremain active only if the player continues to purchase additionallottery tickets for consecutive subsequent drawings for as many weeks asdrawings are held until a winner is drawn in the jackpot sequence. Forinstance, a player purchases a lottery ticket and if the lottery ticketis a loser (i.e. the ticket does not win a jackpot of the lottery), theplayer is enabled to keep each losing ticket alive by purchasing alottery ticket for the next subsequent lottery drawing for so long asthe player participates in consecutive drawings. In this example, tokeep the losing lottery ticket alive, the player must purchase a ticketfor the subsequent, consecutive lottery drawing and if they do not, theticket goes dead. Thus, the player cannot skip a drawing, but rathermust participate in consecutive drawings in order to reactivate losing,older tickets. In this example, the player may keep multiple lotterytickets alive by purchasing a lottery ticket for each subsequent lotterydrawing in that jackpot sequence. For instance, if a lottery runs forfive consecutive drawings before a winning jackpot ticket is selectedand a player purchases a lottery ticket for each of the five consecutivedrawings, the player will have five active lottery tickets for that5^(th) (and final) lottery drawing. In another example, if a playerpurchases a ticket for a 1^(st) drawing, loses, does not purchase aticket in the 2^(nd) drawing, purchases a ticket in the 3^(rd) drawing,loses, and purchases a ticket in the 4^(th) drawing, the ticket for the3^(rd) and 4^(th) drawing are both active for the 4^(th) drawing. If theplayer purchases another ticket in the 5^(th) drawing, the tickets fromthe 3^(rd), 4^(th) and 5^(th) drawings are all active.

With the methods of the present invention, a lottery ticket purchased ina drawing of a lottery-type game, even if it does not win a prize inthat drawing, may be kept “alive” by a player such that the lotteryticket is eligible for participation in a subsequent round of thejackpot sequence. The player may keep the lottery ticket “alive” bypurchasing a new ticket or alternatively by paying a reduced fee (lessthan the cost of a new ticket) to keep the existing, non-winning ticketactive in the subsequent round of the jackpot sequence. In this manner,the value of purchasing a lottery ticket early in a jackpot sequence isincreased by providing players with the ability to keep losing ornon-winning tickets valid or alive for subsequent lottery drawings oruntil a jackpot winner is selected in the same jackpot sequence. Thepresent invention also enables players to build perceived and real“equity” through their purchases over time and for different drawings(i.e., a player's chance of winning a specific jackpot becomesproportionate to the amount that the player has cumulatively invested inthat jackpot sequence). Thus, players who enter the jackpot sequenceonly after the jackpot has achieved a high level will be less likely to“steal” the jackpot from players who have purchased lottery ticketsthroughout the entire jackpot sequence.

In implementing the methods of the present invention, lottery-typegaming administrators may print or otherwise clearly exhibit the jackpotsequences on lottery tickets to avoid player confusion and keep playerswell informed. This may be accomplished in various ways. In oneembodiment, the lottery-type establishment may print the date of thefirst drawing of a particular jackpot sequence on each lottery ticketsold. For instance, each lottery ticket may have an indication of thestarting date of the jackpot sequence printed thereon such as, forexample, the phrase “Jackpot Sequence Beginning Oct. 10, 2005.” Whenthat particular jackpot sequence ends by a player winning the jackpotand a new jackpot sequence begins, the date printed on the lotterytickets in the new jackpot sequence is updated and changed to reflectthe date the new jackpot sequence begins.

In another embodiment, a lottery-type establishment may consecutivelynumber or letter the sequences by placing a phrase such as “JackpotSequence 11” or Jackpot Sequence D” on the issued lottery tickets. Inyet another embodiment, the lottery tickets may be coded with otherindicia such as, for example, color to identify specific jackpotsequences e.g. an orange sequence, a blue sequence, etc. While thespecific indicia, coding system or methodology employed to distinguishdifferent jackpot sequences is not critical, it is crucial that jackpotsequences are clearly differentiated so that players know to whichjackpot sequence their lottery ticket belongs in order to avoidmisunderstandings and discouragement e.g. a player believing he or shehas won, only to find out the “winning” number on the ticket was in thepreceding jackpot sequence.

The methods of keeping losing lottery tickets alive of the presentinvention are compatible with conventional single-matrix or multiplematrix lottery-type game designs (e.g. POWERBALL® or MEGAMILLIONS®) asknown in the art. In another embodiment, the methods of keeping losinglottery tickets alive of the present invention may be implemented with alottery-type game that has larger matrices and longer odds thanconventional lottery-type games in order to compensate for the increasedcoverage and consequent increased prize liability created by theresidual accumulative prize-eligible number combinations that remain incirculation as a result of retained or renewed eligibility. The term“coverage” refers to the percent of available number combinations soldfor a specific lotto drawing. For instance, 10 million unique numbercombinations exist in a game matrix that produces jackpotodds-of-winning of 1 in 10 million. If 2.5 million of those combinationsare sold for a particular drawing, the coverage for that drawing wouldbe 25% and there would be a 1 in 4 chance that the jackpot would be won.Unlike conventional lotto games wherein tickets for a particular drawingbecome null and void after that particular drawing has occurred, theprize-winning eligibility of tickets for the lottery-type methods of thepresent invention would be cumulative and coverage would increase witheach subsequent drawing. Thus, in another embodiment, the matrices ofthe lottery-type game of the present invention may be scaled in afashion to accommodate increased coverage. If the matrices are notscaled appropriately, jackpots may be won too frequently, which maylimit jackpot growth and also decrease the profitability of thelottery-type game below its intended margin as established by the gamingauthority.

In a further embodiment, non-winning lottery tickets from a previousdrawing in a jackpot sequence are eligible to win only the jackpot or“grand” prize itself, and not secondary prizes, in subsequent drawingsof the jackpot sequence. Since the jackpot prize conventionally receivesonly a portion of the total prize pool, this embodiment would requireless modification to the lottery-type game matrix than would alottery-type game that also allows the reactivated lottery tickets to beeligible for both the jackpot and secondary prizes.

In an additional embodiment, non-winning tickets from an earlier drawing(whether it is the 1^(st), 8^(th), 25^(th) or any other drawing in ajackpot sequence) are eligible to win any and all of the normal prizesincluding the jackpot prize and any secondary prizes. In thisembodiment, incremental prize expense liability would increaseexponentially, and compensatory modifications to the lottery-type gamematrix may be required.

In yet other embodiments, a non-winning ticket or a ticket that won aprize other than the jackpot from a previous drawing may be reactivatedfor any individual or combination of prizes associated with thelottery-type game in a subsequent drawing ofthe jackpot sequence. Forinstance, a player holding a non-winning ticket or a ticket that wins aprize other than the jackpot (i.e., an original ticket) is enabled tocash that ticket with a store clerk or at a self-service gamingterminal, wherein a continuation or trailer ticket is issued to theplayer. This continuation or trailer ticket keeps the previouslypurchased ticket number alive for a designated prize or prizes in asubsequent round of the jackpot sequence. The continuation or trailerticket may be associated with a new transaction serial number along withthe duplicate numbers of the original or previously purchased ticket.The continuation or trailer ticket may be clearly labeled with indiciato identify that the continuation or trailer ticket is eligible to winthe jackpot or other gaming authority-selected prize in the subsequentdrawing of the jackpot sequence. Further, the set of numbers on thecontinuation or trailer ticket may be labeled in a manner that wouldeliminate player confusion such as by reciting “Jackpot Eligible Numbersfor Drawing on Jun. 8, 2005”. In this manner, the trailer orcontinuation ticket may clearly identify the set(s) of numbers in play,the eligible prize(s) that can be won and the drawing(s) for which thenumbers are valid.

In another embodiment, a player is enabled to purchase a lottery-typeticket and if the lottery-type ticket does not win a jackpot orsecondary prize in a jackpot sequence drawing, the lottery-type ticketmay be reactivated or remain active and eligible to win prizes insubsequent drawings in the jackpot sequence until it wins a prize or thejackpot is won whichever occurs first. In this embodiment, any winninglottery-type ticket, whether it wins in the first, second, sixth,eighteenth, etc. drawing ofa jackpot sequence, is eliminated ordisqualified or is otherwise ineligible to win additional prizes insubsequent drawings of the jackpot sequence. In other words, in thisembodiment, once a lottery-type ticket wins once, it cannot win againsuch that only true non-winning tickets remain eligible to win thejackpot and/or a secondary prize in a future drawing of the jackpotsequence.

In yet a further embodiment, one of the designated secondary prizes in ajackpot sequence drawing is comprised of retained prize-winningeligibility for one or more of a plurality of prizes in one or moresubsequent drawings of the jackpot sequence. For example, the gamingadministrator may define the prize for correctly matching 3-of-6 numbersin a conventional lottery-type game drawing as retained jackpot and/orsecondary prize-winning eligibility for one or more subsequent drawingsof the jackpot sequence. In this embodiment, retained or continuingeligibility to win prizes in future drawings in the jackpot sequencebecomes a prize that can be awarded in addition to or in lieu ofconventional cash prizes.

In one embodiment, a player of a lottery-type game is provided with anopportunity to purchase one or more lottery tickets. After a lotterydrawing involving the lottery ticket(s) in which there is no jackpotwinner, the player has the option of “re-activating” the lottery ticketsuch that the lottery ticket remains eligible to win one or more of aplurality of prizes in one or more subsequent lottery drawings, whereinthe lottery-type gaming system links or associates the previouslypurchased lottery ticket(s) with one or more newly purchased lotterytickets. For example, a lottery ticket from a preceding drawing may be“re-activated” by the act of the player purchasing a new ticket from aself-service gaming terminal or by a sales clerk using a gamingterminal.

In another embodiment, a non-winning ticket in a preceding lottery-typegame drawing may be reactivated at any time in the jackpot sequence andthereby become eligible to win one or more of a plurality of prizes inone or more subsequent drawings in the same jackpot sequence contingentupon the purchase of one or more new lottery tickets valid for the nextconsecutively scheduled drawing of the same jackpot sequence. Thepurchase of new lottery tickets may be parameter driven such that thegaming authority may require the amount of the new purchase to be lessthan, equal to or greater than the cumulative value of the ofthenon-winning lottery tickets being reactivated. For example, if aplayer's earlier lottery ticket purchase price was $5, the player may berequired to purchase new tickets having at least an equal value (i.e.,$5) in order for the earlier lottery tickets to be reactivated and validfor a subsequent drawing.

In another embodiment, in order for the player to have the ability tokeep a losing lottery ticket alive from a previous drawing to asubsequent drawing, the gaming authority or other entity offering thelottery-type game may require the player to pay a premium for theopportunity to retain prize-winning eligibility for either anindeterminate or finite number of subsequent lottery-type game drawingsin a jackpot sequence. The gaming administrator may charge such apremium “up front” when the original lottery-type game ticket ispurchased or subsequent to a lottery-type drawing after which a tickethas been deemed a non-winner. For instance, the lottery-typeestablishment may charge a fee, such as an increased price for thelottery ticket, for the ability to keep losing lottery tickets alive oreligible to win the jackpot and/or secondary prizes for an indeterminateand/or a predefined number of subsequent drawings in a jackpot sequence.For example, the lottery-type establishment may charge a premium ticketprice such as $5 (rather than the $1 normally charged) for a lotteryticket that is eligible to win both jackpot and secondary prizes in thenext scheduled drawing of the jackpot sequence, and if the jackpot isnot won in the next scheduled drawing, that ticket would remain eligibleto win the jackpot in all subsequent drawings of the jackpot sequenceuntil such time as the jackpot is won. In this example, the gamingadministrator may also continue to sell conventional $1 lottery ticketsthat are eligible to win jackpot and secondary prizes in only the nextscheduled drawing of the jackpot sequence after which time they expire.In this example, players effectively pay a premium for lottery-typelotto tickets that possess continuing prize eligibility for anindeterminate period of time, and the value of the continuingeligibility increases with each drawing of the jackpot sequence in whichthere is no jackpot winner. The foregoing examples are merelyillustrative of approaches and techniques which may be employed tomaintain or enhance the value of a lottery ticket by providing continuedeligibility for winning of one or more prizes in subsequent drawings.

It should be noted that an up-front collection of additional funds atthe time of an initial ticket purchase may be more of a convenientadd-on for lottery patrons, rather than requiring a subsequent purchaseor premium to “reactivate” the ticket for subsequent drawings. Forexample, the lottery may be structured so that, for just 50 cents moreyou can have a “living” lottery ticket for one or more subsequentdrawings. Making gaming more convenient with only a slight increase inprice is an easy way to increase revenue, as you get the add-on when thepatron is digging in their pocket for the first time for the ticketprice, and it is much easier to collect it then than in a subsequentpurchase. It is also contemplated that the premium paid at the time ofthe initial ticket purchase for eligibility in subsequent drawings maybe tied to the nature and extent of such eligibility. For example, for a$1 lottery ticket, a premium of fifty cents may be charged for continuedeligibility for that ticket in the next subsequent drawing, or a premiumof $2 may be charged for eligibility for all subsequent drawings untilthe grand prize jackpot is won. Thus, the patron may be incentivized to“wager” that there will be no grand prize winner for a number of weeks,as the jackpot builds and pay more at the time of the ticket purchase.

In yet an additional embodiment, the ability to keep losing lotterytickets active or alive may be offered by subscription. In thisembodiment, the lottery-type establishment may offer the player anopportunity to purchase a subscription of lottery-type lotto tickets fora specified number of drawings in a jackpot sequence or for a specifiednumber of jackpot sequences, or for a specified amount of time such asone month, three months, six months, etc., wherein the ability to keepthe losing lottery tickets alive for subsequent drawings is availableonly to subscribers. In this embodiment, the game administrator mayprovide the retained prize eligibility feature free of charge as abenefit for subscribers or alternatively may charge a premium for thisservice.

In a further embodiment, players may be provided at the time of purchaseof one or more new lottery-type lotto tickets in a jackpot sequence theopportunity to pay an incremental fee to reactivate older losing ticketsin the same jackpot sequence to be eligible for the jackpot and/ordesignated secondary prizes in subsequent consecutive or non-consecutivedrawings in the same jackpot sequence. In this embodiment, thereactivation maybe performed in the same lottery jackpot sequence uponthe payment of a fee by the player, wherein the fee charged to theplayer to keep the losing ticket alive is a reduced price of the regularpurchase price of the losing lottery ticket. The fee may be 50% of thenormal ticket cost for the losing ticket that is paid to thelottery-type establishment in conjunction with the purchase of a newlottery ticket. In another example, the player may be provided with theopportunity to renew or reactivate an old or losing ticket (regardlessof how many) by paying a flat fee of a predetermined amount such as, forexample, $1. This embodiment may be offered by a lottery-type gamingsystem operably configured with appropriate software and readers, withthe given proviso that a regulatory agency allows such a system.

In another embodiment, a lottery ticket purchased in a previous drawingmay not be linked to new lottery ticket purchases. In this embodiment,all lottery tickets are as discrete and independent as they are inconventional lottery-type games. In this embodiment, the lottery-typegaming system and associated software would be programmed such thatplayers would not be required to do anything to reactivate previouslypurchased lottery tickets. The lottery-type gaming system and associatedsoftware would be programmed such that continued prize eligibilityautomatically occurs, thus, providing significant added value to lotterytickets and a high level of convenience for players. This embodimentwould also eliminate the need for lottery retailers to repeatedly scan,swipe, read, and/or process millions of previously sold lottery tickets.

The methods of lottery-type gaming described herein are compatible withconventional (i.e., paper based) lottery-type gaming systems, card basedlottery-type systems, account based lottery-type systems, Internet basedlottery-type wagering systems, and/or subscription based lottery-typesystems. Further, it will be apparent by those of ordinary skill in theart that the methods of lottery-type gaming described herein may beimplemented on conventional lottery-type gaming systems by theconfiguration and generation of appropriate software compatible with theexisting lottery-type gaming systems.

Referring to FIG. 1A, an exemplary lottery-type gaming system 100 isillustrated in the form of a block diagram, in which the lottery-typegaming methods of the present invention may be implemented. Thelottery-type gaming system 100 may include a lottery-type gamingterminal 102 that includes a player or teller interface 109,microprocessor 106 including associated memory and software, networkinterface apparatus 104 with associated software, and a printer 123 ifdesired. The lottery-type gaming terminal 102 may have a housing (notshown) that supports the player or teller interface 109, optionally,including a device for reading a credit instrument 114 (which may beused in conjunction with secondary identifier input device 113), aninput device 110, and a display 112. In one embodiment, the device forreading the credit instrument is a card reader when the creditinstrument is a card. In other embodiments, the device for reading thecredit instrument is any device capable of recognizing a uniqueidentifier associated with the credit instrument or if an anonymousaccount is set up without a credit instrument, the device comprises aninput device such that the player or teller may enter a uniqueidentifier such as a user name or a biometrics scanner recognizablefeature (i.e., a fingerprint). A secondary identifier input device 113may be integrated, if desired, with the device for reading the creditinstrument 114. The microprocessor 106 and its associated memory andsoftware are in electrical communication and operably coupled with anetwork interface apparatus 104. The network interface apparatus 104 isoperably coupled to the gaming administrator computer system 116, whichmay include a database of player accounts, via a phone line, cable line,or other suitable, secure connection. The gaming administrator computersystem 116 may be located at the headquarters of the gamingadministrator or other secure site. Such a computer system may beconfigured to store the player's account information and balance.

The display 112 may comprise a display such as a liquid crystal display(LCD), an LCD touch screen, a plasma display, a field emission display(FED), or employ any other suitable display technology known to those ofordinary skill in the art. The display 112, under control of themicroprocessor 106, displays information pertinent to the transfer offunds from the player's account or eligibility of a lottery ticket withthe gaming administrator. Such information may include, for example, aprompt to enter a personal identification number, a notice that thetransfer of funds was authorized, an amount of the authorized transfer,and the player's account balance.

The input device 110 may comprise, for example, a keypad, controlbuttons, touch display, a joy stick, a touch screen, or a combinationthereof. The input device 110 allows the player or teller to place thelottery-type wager by enabling the player or teller to select theoutcome of the event being wagered on and purchase the lottery ticket.

The lottery-type gaming terminal 102 may be configured with networkinterface apparatus 104 including components such as ports, cableconnections, and/or network cards for linking the lottery-type gamingterminal 102 to the lottery-type gaming administrator computer system116 via an intranet and/or other network (e.g., a local area network(LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet (also referred to as theWorld Wide Web), etc.). Encrypted communications may be employed foradditional security if necessary or desirable. Although only a singlelottery-type gaming terminal 102 is shown in FIG. 1, a plurality oflottery-type gaming terminals 102 may be connected to the gamingadministrator computer system 116 (e.g., a central server) using such anetwork.

As shown in FIG. 1B, a lottery-type gaming administrator computer system116 may also be operably coupled to an electronic funds transfer (EFT)system 120 through a connection such as, for example, by a phone orcable line, in order to utilize payment with a credit instrument such asa credit/debit card. The EFT system 120 is, in turn, operably coupled tocredit/debit card issuing system 122 using a cable or phone line.

As shown in FIG. 1C, in another system for implementing the methods ofthe present invention utilizing a credit instrument, the gamingadministrator computer system 116 will not have the player's accountinformation and balance stored on it. Instead, the gaming administratorcomputer system 116 may be operably coupled to a financial server 121 ata separate location from the gaming administrator computer system 116that has the player's account balance and associated account informationstored on it. It is also understood that the present invention embracesemploying a commercially available customer relationship management(CRM) system, such as People Soft™, to manage and store the player'saccount information and account balance. The CRM system maybe used inconjunction with gaming administrator computer system 116 or inconjunction with an offsite computer server in communication with thegaming administrator computer system 116 and computer server 118.

A card reader 117, optionally having a secondary identifier input device113 associated therewith (not shown), maybe located at concessionaires,admission entrances or special access areas of establishments offeringlottery-type gaming ticket purchases, and may be in communication witheither the gaming administrator computer system 116, the EFT system 120,or the financial server 121 via a computer server 118 as respectivelyillustrated in FIGS. 1A-1C.

Although the present invention has been described with respect tocertain illustrative methods and systems for providing a player anopportunity to reactivate losing lottery tickets, it will be apparent bythose of ordinary skill in the art that other methods and systems areencompassed by the present invention fall within the scope of theclaims.

1. A method of lottery-type wagering, the method comprising: providing aplayer an opportunity to purchase a lottery ticket for a first round ofa lottery-type game; conducting the first round of the lottery-typegame; and providing the player an opportunity to activate the lotteryticket for participation in at least one round subsequent to the firstround.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the player selects toactivate the lottery ticket for participation in the at least one roundsubsequent to the first round by purchasing another lottery ticket forthe at least one round subsequent to the first round or by paying a fee.3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the lottery ticket is activein the lottery-type game until a jackpot is won in a jackpot sequence ofthe lottery-type game.
 4. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising exhibiting a jackpot sequence of the lottery-type game on thelottery ticket.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein thelottery-type game comprises a single matrix or multiple matrixlottery-type game design.
 6. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising scaling coverage of the lottery-type game for a matrix of thelottery-type game.
 7. The method according to claim 1, wherein if theplayer elects to activate the lottery ticket for participation in the atleast one round subsequent to the first round, the activated lotteryticket is eligible to win a jackpot prize, a secondary prize, orcombinations of any thereof.
 8. The method according to claim 1, whereinif the player elects to activate the lottery ticket for participation inthe at least one round subsequent to the first round, the activatedlottery ticket is eligible to win a jackpot prize or a secondary prize.9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the player is provided withthe opportunity to activate the lottery ticket if the lottery ticketdoes not win a prize in the first round.
 10. The method according toclaim 1, wherein the player is provided with the opportunity to activatethe lottery ticket if the lottery ticket does not win a jackpot prize inthe first round or if the lottery ticket wins a prize other than thejackpot prize.
 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein if theplayer elects to activate the lottery ticket for participation in the atleast one round subsequent to the first round, the player is issued asecond lottery ticket that references the lottery ticket forparticipation in the at least one round subsequent to the first round.12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising marking thesecond lottery ticket with indicia indicating that the second lotteryticket is eligible to win a prize in the at least one round subsequentto the first round.
 13. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising disqualifying a winning lottery ticket from the first roundfor participation in the at least one round subsequent to the firstround.
 14. The method according to claim 1, wherein if the player electsto activate the lottery ticket for participation in the at least oneround subsequent to the first round and the lottery ticket does not wina prize in the first round, the lottery ticket is made eligible for anyprize in the at least one round subsequent to the first round.
 15. Themethod according to claim 1, wherein the player is provided theopportunity to activate the lottery ticket for participation in the atleast one round subsequent to the first round until a jackpot is won ina jackpot sequence of the lottery-type game.
 16. A method oflottery-type wagering, the method comprising: providing a player anopportunity to purchase a lottery ticket for a first drawing in alottery-type game; effecting an outcome of the first drawing in thelottery-type game; and awarding a prize of a plurality of prizes to aparticipant in the lottery-type game if the participant's lottery ticketat least partially matches the outcome of the first drawing of thelottery-type game; wherein one of the plurality of prizes comprisesqualification of the participant's lottery ticket for a drawingsubsequent to the first drawing.
 17. A method of lottery-type wagering,the method comprising: providing a player an opportunity to purchase alottery ticket for a drawing of a jackpot sequence; conducting thedrawing of the jackpot sequence; providing the player an opportunity toactivate the lottery ticket for participation in a consecutive drawingfollowing the drawing of the jackpot sequence; and conducting theconsecutive drawing following the drawing of the jackpot sequence. 18.The method according to claim 17, wherein the player is provided withthe opportunity to activate the lottery ticket for participation in eachconsecutive drawing following the drawing of the jackpot sequence untila jackpot is won in the jackpot sequence.
 19. The method according toclaim 17, wherein the player elects to activate the lottery ticket forparticipation in the consecutive drawing following the round of thejackpot sequence by purchasing another lottery ticket for the at leastone round subsequent to the first round or by paying a fee.
 20. Themethod according to claim 17, wherein if the player elects to activatethe lottery ticket for participation in the at least one roundsubsequent to the first round, the activated lottery ticket is eligibleto win a jackpot prize, a secondary prize, or combinations of anythereof.
 21. The method according to claim 17, wherein if the playerelects to activate the lottery ticket for participation in the at leastone round subsequent to the first round, the activated lottery ticket iseligible to win a jackpot prize or a secondary prize.
 22. A method oflottery-type wagering, the method comprising: providing a player anopportunity to purchase a subscription for participation in at least twodrawings of a jackpot sequence; wherein the subscription comprises atleast a first lottery ticket eligible for a prize in a first drawing anda second drawing of the at least two drawings and at least a secondlottery ticket eligible for a prize in the second drawing of the atleast two drawings; and conducting the at least two drawings of thejackpot sequence.
 23. The method according to claim 22, wherein thesubscription provides the player the opportunity to participate in eachdrawing of a jackpot sequence for a predetermined period of time oruntil a jackpot is won in the jackpot sequence.
 24. A system forconducting a lottery-type gaming activity, comprising: at least onegaming terminal; a computer system with associated software, wherein thesoftware is operatively configured to enable the system for conductingthe lottery-type gaming activity to perform the method of any one ofclaims 1-23.